Truck having a dumping bin and storage compartment with attached ramp, and a system and method for transporting articles

ABSTRACT

A truck has a cab wherein a dumping bin and a storage compartment are attached to the cab. The dumping bin may be tilted to facilitate dumping of items placed within the dumping bin. The dumping bin may be operated from within the cab. The storage compartment has a ramp attached to the storage compartment. The ramp may be raised or lowered to enable a user to load or unload items from the storage compartment. A system and a method for transporting articles are also provided.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/124,512 filed on Apr. 17, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a truck, a system and amethod for transporting articles having a dumping bin and a storagecompartment attached to a cab of the vehicle. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a truck having a dumping bin attached tothe cab wherein the dumping bin may be operated from within the cab. Thetruck further has a storage compartment having a ramp attached to thestorage compartment. The ramp may be lowered to enable loading andunloading of the truck. The ramp may also be raised to provide a gatefor the storage compartment.

It is, of course, generally known to load and/or unload materials,equipment or the like onto a vehicle. A truck is one example of avehicle onto which a user may load or unload materials or equipment.Known trucks may have a cab having a storage compartment attached to thecab. The storage compartment may have an interior which may hold variousmaterials, such as products, equipment, waste products, or other items.

Often, the storage compartment is elevated which may cause difficultyfor a user to load or unload the truck. In some instances, a ramp ispositioned adjacent to the loading area of the truck to reduce theamount of work required to place materials within the storagecompartment. However, positioning a ramp proximate to the loading areaof the truck is often a labor-intensive task.

Certain other trucks may have a dumping bin attached to the cab intowhich a user may place waste products. The dumping bin may be positionednext to a dumping site and may be tilted to an angle, causing itemswithin the dumping bin to exit the dumping bin. A user generallyoperates the dumping bin by exiting the cab of the truck and actuatingthe appropriate button, lever or like device to tilt the dumping bin.Exiting the cab may be inconvenient in certain instances. For example,the user may attempt to position the dumping bin near a dumping area.The proximity of the truck to the dumping area may cause the userdifficulty in exiting the cab. In other instances, such as inclementweather, the user is inconvenienced by having to exit the cab of thetruck to operate the dumping bin.

Trucks are often implemented in the landscaping industry, particularly,transporting of landscaping equipment and/or materials to the siterequiring landscaping work and removal of rubbish and the like from thesite. A landscaper loads and unloads the necessary landscaping equipmentand/or materials onto a truck or other vehicle for transport to thesite. The landscaper may also be required to store and remove wasteproducts from the landscaping site. These duties are often difficult toperform due to deficiencies of known trucks.

A need, therefore, exists for a truck, a system and a method fortransporting articles having a cab and a dumping bin attached to the cabwherein the dumping bin may be operated from inside the cab. A furtherneed exists for a truck, a system and a method for transporting articleshaving a cab and a storage compartment attached to the cab wherein thestorage compartment further has a ramp which may be raised or lowered toload or unload the storage compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a truck, a system and a method fortransporting articles having a cab wherein a dumping bin and a storagecompartment are attached to the cab. The dumping bin may be tilted tofacilitate dumping of materials placed within the dumping bin. Thedumping bin may be operated from within the cab. The storage compartmenthas a ramp attached to the storage compartment. The ramp may be raisedor lowered to assist with loading or unloading materials from thestorage compartment.

To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a truck isprovided. The truck has a cab having a body having walls defining aninterior. A bed is provided extending along a horizontal plane between afront end and a rear end wherein the front end is closest to the cab andthe rear end is furthest from the cab and further wherein the bed isdefined along an axis extending from the front end to the rear end. Alsoprovided is a dumping bin having walls and a base defining an interiorwherein the dumping bin is positioned at the front end of the bed andfurther wherein the dumping bin moves in a direction perpendicular tothe axis of the bed. A cylinder is positioned adjacent to the base ofthe dumping bin wherein the cylinder moves the dumping bin. A storagecompartment is provided having walls defining an interior and ispositioned on the bed adjacent to the dumping bin. A controller incommunication with the cylinder is also provided wherein the controlleris located within the interior of the cab and further wherein thecontroller is activated to move the dumping bin in the directionperpendicular to the axis of the bed.

In an embodiment, the truck has a ramp attached to the storagecompartment.

In an embodiment, the truck has a winch attached to the storagecompartment wherein the winch is controlled by the controller.

In an embodiment, the truck has a panel on the dumping bin wherein thepanel is controlled by the controller.

In an embodiment, the truck has a retractable door providing access tothe storage compartment.

In an embodiment, the dumping bin is positioned between the cab and thestorage compartment.

In an embodiment, the truck has a door providing access to the storagecompartment.

In an embodiment, the truck has a ramp attached to the storagecompartment wherein the ramp has a first section and a second sectionwherein each of the first section and the second section isindependently movable.

In an embodiment, the dumping bin and the storage compartment areattached to the bed.

In an embodiment, the truck has a section of the storage compartmentextending from the interior of the storage compartment to an end of thestorage compartment wherein the section has a declining slope.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided.The system has a cab having a body and walls defining an interiorwherein the cab has a bed extending from the body between a first endand a second end defining an axis of the bed. The system also has adumping bin having a body defined by walls and a base wherein thedumping bin is positioned on the bed and moves perpendicular to theaxis. Also provided is a cylinder positioned between the bed and thedumping bin. A panel is positioned on the dumping bin between one of thewalls and the base. In addition, a controller is positioned within thecab wherein the controller is in communication with the cylinder andcauses the cylinder to move the dumping bin.

In an embodiment, the system has a storage compartment having wallsdefining an interior positioned on the bed adjacent to the dumping bin.

In an embodiment, the system has a retractable door positioned adjacentto the bed.

In an embodiment, the system has a ramp positioned adjacent to the bed.

In an embodiment, the system has a winch in communication with thecontroller.

In an embodiment, the panel may be moved into a position and locked inthe position.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method fortransporting articles in a vehicle to assist in delivery and/or haulingof items from a site wherein the vehicle has a cab and a bed extendingfrom the cab defining a length between a first end and a second end isprovided. The method comprises the steps of: storing the articles in acompartment on the bed at the second end of the truck wherein thecompartment has an interior for holding the articles; attaching a rampto the compartment securing the articles in the interior of thecompartment; and positioning a bin between the compartment and the cabwherein the bin tilts in only one direction transverse to the length ofthe bed.

In an embodiment, the method comprises an additional step of loweringthe ramp from the compartment wherein the ramp has a first section and asecond section independently positionable.

In an embodiment, the method comprises an additional step of raising thebin with a cylinder between the bed and the bin.

In an embodiment, the method comprises an additional step of controllingthe position of the bin from within the cab.

It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide atruck, a system and a method for transporting articles which enables auser to load, transport and unload materials, the truck having a cab andfurther having a dumping bin and a storage compartment attached to thecab.

Another advantage of the present invention to provide a truck, a systemand a method for transporting articles which enables a user to operate adumping bin from within a cab of the truck.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a truck,a system and a method for transporting articles which enables moreefficient dumping of materials placed within a dumping bin of the truck.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a truck, asystem and a method for transporting articles having a ramp attached toa storage compartment wherein the ramp may be raised or lowered.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide atruck, a system and a method for transporting articles having a rampattached to a storage compartment which enables loading and unloading ofmaterials from the storage compartment.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a truck, asystem and a method for transporting articles having a ramp attached toa storage compartment wherein the ramp may be raised or lowered byactuation of a controller located within the interior of the cab.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a truck, asystem and a method for transporting articles having a ramp attached toa storage compartment, wherein individual sections of the ramp may beraised or lowered.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a truck in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the truck in an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the truck in an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the truck in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of the truck in an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of the truck in an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of the truck in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally provides a truck, a system and a methodfor transporting articles having a cab wherein a dumping bin and astorage compartment are attached to the cab. The dumping bin may beraised or lowered by a hydraulic cylinder. Moreover, raising or loweringof the dumping bin may be controlled by a controller within an interiorof the cab. The storage compartment may have a ramp attached that may beraised or lowered to assist with loading or unloading materials,equipment or the like from the storage compartment. The ramp may beoperated manually or may be operated remotely.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts,FIG. 1 illustrates a truck 2 in an embodiment of the present invention.The truck 2 may have a cab 4, a dumping bin 6 and a storage compartment8. The dumping bin 6 may be positioned adjacent to the cab 4 with thestorage compartment 8 adjacent to a rear 3 of the dumping bin 6 asgenerally illustrated in FIG. 1.

The cab 4 may have conventional features, such as, for example, wheels10. In addition, the cab 4 may have a front portion 12 which may housean engine (not shown). The front portion 12 may define an interior 5 ofthe cab 4 in which a user may sit when operating the truck 2. A fueltank 25 may be attached to the cab 4 at a side 7 of a bed 14 of the cab4.

The bed 14 may extend from a rear 9 of the front portion 12. The bed 14is preferably constructed of metal. The bed 14 may have a body definedby a horizontal plane and may be a length for the dumping bin 6 and thestorage compartment 8 to be positioned on the bed 14. In an embodiment,the dumping bin 6 and/or the storage compartment 8 may be attached tothe bed 14 by fasteners, welding, or other like devices. The bed 14 maygenerally extend for a length defined by a longitudinal axis shown bythe line A-A in FIG. 1.

The dumping bin 6 may have a base portion 18. Preferably, the baseportion 18 is constructed from metal; however, any other materialapparent to those skilled in the art may be implemented. The baseportion 18 may be positioned adjacent to a cylinder 20. The cylinder 20may have a hydraulic piston 21 which may raise, lower or support thedumping bin 6. In an embodiment, the hydraulic piston 21 may be attachedto a base 22 of the dumping bin 6 by a plate 24. The plate 24 may befastened by screws, bolts, welding or the like. In an embodiment, theplate 24 may be integrally formed with the base 22. FIG. 2 illustratesthe plate 24 attached at a specific location of the base 22; however,the plate 24 may be attached to the base 22 at any location between thebase 22 and the bed 14 such that the hydraulic piston 21 may raise,lower or support the dumping bin 6. The base 22 of the dumping bin 6 maybe constructed from wood, metal, plastic, or any other material apparentto those skilled in the art. The base 22 may have beams 26 to providesupport to the dumping bin 6.

The dumping bin 6 may have walls 28 on opposite sides of the dumping bin6. The walls 28 may be constructed from wood, metal or other likematerial. The base 22 of the dumping bin 6 may be sized to be positionedbetween the cab 4 and the storage compartment 8 and may have a widthapproximately equal to the width of the bed 14. The height of thedumping bin 8 may be approximately equal to or less than the height ofthe cab 4. The interior 15 of the dumping bin 6 may be sufficient tohouse items, such as, for example, grass clippings, mulch or the like.

The dumping bin 6 may also have a door 30 which may be positionedperpendicular to the walls 28. FIG. 3 illustrates the door 30 on apassenger side 29 of the truck 2; however, the door 30 may be positionedon the dumping bin 6 on either one of the passenger side 29 or a driverside 31 of the truck 2 or both sides. The door 30 may be connected tothe walls 28 of the dumping bin 6 at hinges 32 and may be locked when inan upright or closed position. The door 30 may then prevent items withinthe dumping bin 6 from falling from the dumping bin 6.

The dumping bin 6 may also have a panel 34, preferably constructed ofmetal. However, the panel 34 may also be constructed of any materialapparent to those skilled in the art. The panel 34 may be locatedbetween a wall 35 and the base 22 and may have a body defined by aplane. FIG. 1 illustrates the panel 34 as positioned between the wall 35and the base 22 of the dumping bin 6 on the driver side 31 of the truck2. However, the panel 34 may be located on either the driver side 31 orthe passenger side 29 of the truck 2 or both sides.

The panel 34 may be connected to the dumping bin 6 by a hinge (notshown) at a top 11 or a bottom 13 of the panel 34, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 5. The panel 34 may open towards an interior 15 of thedumping bin 6. The panel 34 may also open in an opposite, or outward,direction. In addition, the hinge may be locked to maintain the panel 34in a position for securing items within the dumping bin 6. The hinge mayalso be locked when the panel 34 is in an open or outward position toallow items to be placed within or removed from the dumping bin 6. Thepanel 34 may be positioned manually. Alternatively, the panel 34 may bepositioned by a motor (not shown) adjacent to the panel 34 which iscontrolled by a controller 23. The controller 23 may be located withinthe interior 5 of the cab 4.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the cylinder 20 and the hydraulic piston 21 mayalso be controlled by the controller 23. Accordingly, a user mayactivate the controller 23 from within the cab 4 to force the hydraulicpiston 21 to lift or to raise the dumping bin 6. As a result, thedumping bin 6 may then be raised or tilted toward the driver side 31 asillustrated. However, the dumping bin 6 and the cylinder 20 may bepositioned such that the dumping bin 6 may tilt towards the driver side31 or the passenger side 29 of the truck 2. Preferably, the dumping bin6 may be moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-Aof the bed 14. In a raised position, the user may activate thecontroller 23 to position the panel 34 in an open position to enableitems within the dumping bin 6 to be placed within or be removed fromthe dumping bin 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, the storage compartment 8 may be constructed fromwood, metal, or any other material apparent to those skilled in the art.The storage compartment 8 may have walls 36, a top 38 and a base 40defining an interior 42 of the storage compartment 8 as illustrated inFIG. 2. The storage compartment 8 may have a length greater than that ofthe dumping bin 6 and may have a height greater than that of the dumpingbin 6 and the cab 4. The width of the storage compartment 8 may beapproximately equal to that of the bed 14. The interior 42 may be sizedto store equipment or other items, such as, for example, mowers,trimmers, blowers or the like. The interior 42 may also house wasteitems such as, for example, trees, bushes, or the like. Tools or otheritems may be hung, for example, on hooks 43 which may be attached to thewalls 36. A door 46 may be positioned on the storage compartment 8 asillustrated in FIG. 3. The door 46 may be positioned on either thepassenger side 29 or the driver side 31 of the storage compartment 8.The door 46 may be connected to the wall 36 by hinges 48 and may provideaccess to the interior 42 of the storage compartment 8.

A retractable door 52 may be provided at a rear end 50 of the storagecompartment 8. The retractable door 52 may be constructed from wood,metal, or other like material. The retractable door 52 may slide upwardsor downwards along rails (not shown). When the retractable door 52 isopened, a portion of the retractable door 52 may be positioned adjacentto a ceiling 53 within the interior 42 of the storage compartment 8.Attached to the retractable door 52 may be a handle 54 which may enablethe user to open or close the retractable door 52.

The base 40 of the storage compartment 8 may extend parallel to a flooror ground 72 and may have a section 55 having a downward slope. Thesection 55 may extend from a point within the interior 42 of the storagecompartment 8 to a rear end 50 of the storage compartment 8. Thedownward slope of the section 55 may assist in loading and unloading ofitems from the storage compartment 8 when a ramp 56 (described infurther detail hereinafter) is positioned to lead into the interior 42of the storage compartment 8.

The ramp 56 may be attached to the rear end 50 of the storagecompartment 8. The ramp 56 may be constructed of any material apparentto those skilled in the art including, but not limited to, metal, wood,or the like. The ramp 56 may have beams 57 for supporting weight placedon the ramp 56. In an upright position, the ramp 56 may be positionedadjacent and parallel to the rear end 50 of the storage compartment 8 asillustrated in FIG. 4. In a lowered position, the ramp 56 leads into theinterior 42 of the storage compartment 8 and is adjacent to the section55. The slope of the section 55 provides assistance in loading and/orunloading from the storage compartment 8.

The ramp 56 may have sections 60 a and 60 b as illustrated in FIG. 4.The sections 60 a and 60 b may be locked together by a locking mechanism62. The locking mechanism 62 may have a latch 63 which may be attachedto the section 60 b. The latch 63 may interlock with a female portion 65attached to the section 60 a. Alternatively, the latch 63 may beattached to the section 60 a, and the female portion 65 may be attachedto the section 60 b. The sections 60 a and 60 b, when locked, may bemoved simultaneously. If the sections 60 a and 60 b are not locked, thesections 60 a and 60 b may be moved independently.

The sections 60 a and 60 b may be connected to winches 64 located on thestorage compartment 8 on the driver side 31 and the passenger side 29.The winches 64 may have a cord 66 that may extend from a top end 68 ofeach of the sections 60 and 60 b. The cord 66 may be fastened to a hook69 located at the top end 68 of each of the sections 60 a and 60 b. Thewinches 64 may enable the raising or lowering of the sections 60 a and60 b by pulling or releasing the cord 66. In an embodiment, only onewinch 64 is positioned on the storage compartment 8 and used to raise orlower the sections 60 a and 60 b, whether individually orsimultaneously.

In an embodiment, the user may lower the sections 60 a and 60 b manuallyby contacting the sections 60 a and 60 b and positioning the sections 60a and 60 b onto the ground 72. Conversely, the user may raise thesections 60 a and 60 b by contacting and positioning the sections 60 aand 60 b towards the rear end 50 of the storage compartment 8.

In an embodiment, the winches 64 may be controlled by the controller 23within the interior 5 of the cab 4. The controller 23 may be able tooperate the winches 64 simultaneously or independently. The user mayraise or may lower the ramp 56 from within the interior 5 of the cab 4by activating the controller 23. Alternatively, the winches 64 may becontrolled by a controller 65 which may be located on the storagecompartment 8 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The controller 65 may alsooperate the winches 64 simultaneously or independently.

Accordingly, the truck 2 of the present invention may provide advantagesfor an individual such as, for example, a landscaper. For example, theramp 56 may allow a user to load or unload items, such as landscapingtools or equipment, from the storage compartment 8. Smaller-sized toolsor equipment may be hung on the hooks 43 within the interior 42 of thestorage compartment 8. Moreover, attachment of the ramp 56 to thestorage compartment 8 may allow the user to avoid added labor to load orunload items or equipment. In addition, the dumping bin 6 may beoperated from within the interior 5 of the cab. As a result, alandscaper may place waste within the dumping bin 6 and transport thewaste to a dumping site. The user may then remain within the cab 4during disposal of the waste. The consolidation of the dumping bin 6 andthe storage compartment 8 onto a single truck 2 does not require anyother vehicle or apparatus to perform functions such as loading,unloading and storing equipment; storing and disposing of wasteproducts; and transporting equipment, tools, materials, waste or otheritems.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method for transporting articles in a vehicle toassist in delivery and/or hauling of items from a site wherein thevehicle has a cab and a bed extending from the cab defining a lengthbetween a first end and a second end, the method comprising the stepsof: storing the articles in a compartment on the bed at the second endof the truck wherein the compartment has an interior for holding thearticles; attaching a ramp to the compartment securing the articles inthe interior of the compartment; and positioning a bin between thecompartment and the cab wherein the bin tilts in only one directiontransverse to the length of the bed.
 18. The method of claim 17 furthercomprising the step of: lowering the ramp from the compartment whereinthe ramp has a first section and a second section independentlypositionable.
 19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:raising the bin with a cylinder between the bed and the bin.
 20. Themethod of claim 17 further comprising the step of: controlling theposition of the bin from within the cab.